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Ever since Democratic state senator Carl Kruger voted against a bill to legalize marriage equality back in 2009, some gay activists have alleged that he was a hypocrite, and himself was leading the life of a gay man in a domestic relationship with another man. These claims weren't picked up much by the press, until today, when the Post splashed "BRIBE & GROOM" across its front page with a picture of Kruger and the subhead "Pol, secret gay lover arrested." According to the tabloid, one of the conspirators in the widespread corruption scheme uncovered by federal authorities was gynecologist Michael Turano, who according to court filings helped Kruger launder hundreds of thousands in bribes.

Even though his official residence is in Georgetown, Brooklyn, Kruger is rarely seen there. Instead, he lives with the Turano family in a sprawling mansion in Mill Basin (Michael Turano shares the home with his mother and his brother). According to the complaint, Kruger acted as part of the family, "for example buying light bulbs for the Turano residence, travel-sized snacks for them when they traveled, and stockings for the Turano mother." From the Post:

Kruger's constant companion, Turano, is accused of using bribe money he deposited in two shell companies for Kruger to pay the lease on a Bentley luxury sedan, credit-card bills and the mortgage on the garish, multimillion-dollar Mill Basin home where the two men for years have shacked up with Turano's mom and brother, authorities and neighbors said.

"Sen. Kruger had a close and intimate relationship with the entire Turano family, which includes one of the defendants, Michael Turano, along with his mother and brother," US Attorney Preet Bharara told reporters yesterday.

Kruger's lawyers didn't comment when asked whether Kruger and Turano were lovers, so it's not exactly clear why the Post felt comfortable putting the claim on the front page. (Other than the travel-size snacks and stockings purchased by Kruger for his lover's mother, which seem pretty damning as far as homosexual evidence goes.) But if it's true, it serves as a helpful reminder that the phenomenon of hypocritical politicians who live gay lives in secret, but vote against gay issues in public, is not reserved for only one side of the aisle.